Observation of Domain Wall Resistance in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 Films

We report the study of the magnetoresistance (MR) and resistivity as a function of temperature in epitaxial thin films of the La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 type (LCMO). The films deposited onto Y-cut of single-crystalline LiNbO3 (LNO) substrates by pulsed-laser deposition in an on-axis geometry. For comparison, the same manganite film deposited onto LaAlO3 (LAO) substrate is studied. The MR of LCMO/LNO film is found to be anisotropic and exhibits a hysteresis loops in low magnetic fields. When magnetic field is parallel to the film plane a number of jumps are observed in the MR below magnetic fields H~6 kOe. These jumps reflect the presence of pinning centers for domain walls. Evidently, a lattice deformation produced by a mismatch of lattice constants LCMO film and LNO, which lead to distortion of the film, is the origin of such strong pinning centers.